Fuerteventura Island Council begins work to enhance La Alberca de Betancuria

Fuerteventura Island Council has begun a landmark project for Betancuria and the island’s tourist image. The “Improvement and enhancement of the surroundings of La Alberca de Betancuria” is part of the Island Plan for Cooperation on Works and Services under municipal responsibility. It is funded by the Infrastructure Department (80 per cent) and the Canary Islands Development Fund (FDCAN, 20 per cent).

Island Council President Lola García highlighted “the importance of cooperation between administrations in driving improvements to infrastructure and facilities in Fuerteventura’s six municipalities”. She added: “In this case, in coordination with Betancuria Town Council, the €300,000 project will restore the area around the pool and integrate it into the landscape.”

Fuerteventura Island Council’s Infrastructure Councillor, Blas Acosta, said: “These kinds of municipal cooperation projects enhance places of great local significance where, nonetheless, the opportunity to carry out the work has not arisen. The Island Council is a strategic ally for town councils, helping to connect the island as a whole.”

Led by the Island Council under its municipal cooperation plan, the project will improve safety and accessibility and better integrate this distinctive historic site in Betancuria into the landscape.

The seven-month project includes improvements to the access path, construction of a traditional masonry wall, channelling the ravine bed and restoring dry-stone walls.

More specifically, the work will improve access and safety, making it easier for pedestrians to get around through restoration of the path and construction of a footbridge. It will also preserve the heritage and landscape by using traditional materials and respecting Betancuria’s natural surroundings.

Finally, and crucially, it will improve water management and prevent erosion by channelling the ravine bed and installing drainage structures.